Messages

1

General Mach Discussion / Please help

« on: December 19, 2020, 10:03:32 PM »

Hi all,

Had Mach 3 for years - with no issues. Lately my old XP pc has gone to a better life. I know now that Mach3 cannot run on win10 and any 64 bit system.

My CNC controller is a home built HobbyCnc one, working on the Parallel port.

Since I have not operated my machine for some time now - I really have no idea what are my options here:

Should I get another Win XP PC ?

Is there any workaround that will allow me to run Mach 3 on a win10 PC ?

Is there any gadget out there which will allow me to switch from LPT to USB and work on win 10 or Win7 with 64 bit?

Many thanks in advance.

Isaac

2

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with circles

« on: September 13, 2011, 04:16:08 AM »

Hi Tweakie

I did not get to the tool problems yet :-)

I tried today again, and it seems that that my gantry that is moved by one anti-backlash nut is twisting so I get the 0.4-0.5 backlash on mu X axis.

Checked with the D.T.I (you see - I learn fast) the other axes - they were almost perfect - 0.01 to 0.03 backlash.

Took the top part off - and checked the backlash of the X axis by the nut - was almost perfect. Checking the other side of the gantry (one that does not have a nut) - I got this big backlash again.

I guess my best option will be to get another nut and put it on the other and opposite side - this will hopefully eliminate the problem...at least until I start cutting :-)

So I am relieved this is not a problem with the screws and the nuts - hope this will solve the problem.

Thank you for your time and assistance



Isaac

3

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with circles

« on: September 12, 2011, 05:47:06 PM »

Thanks Tweakie

Problem is I have only the screw and the nut - and have no idea how can I "adjust" anything.

My screw goes from the stepper via an aluminium connector straight to the unti-backlash nut which is a simple flange housing spring and the collar. The flange is screwed to the bottom of the gantry, and the other end of the screw is rotating freely in a hole that is pretty tight (no interference though)

My tool movement is minimal thanks to the Kress machine collet. I will look for a mechanical movement just to make sure. Other than that I am out of ideas, and how anything can be "adjusted"

Many thanks


Isaac

4

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with circles

« on: September 12, 2011, 12:07:58 PM »

Thanks fellas


I am REALLY new at this - so some of the terms are un-familliar to me:

What is D.T.I and how do I use it to set the machine to zero backlash - is this the config/baclash page on MAch3 ?

What are "thrust bearings" and how do I adjust the pre-load on them ?


Cheers


Isaac

5

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help with circles

« on: September 12, 2011, 07:32:11 AM »

Thanks guys

I think this is a backslash issue :-(

Did some tests with a dial indicator - have observed funny thing.... suppose I jog the x axis to the left - zero mach x axis and zero the dial - when jogging to the right - the dial initially shows movement to the LEFT and then it starts to move to the right- backlash is about 0.45 mm


I have Kerk motion leadscrews with anti backlash nut ??  have no idea how this is happening - when power is OFF - I can see no slack movement between the motor shaft-coupler and leadscrew.

Tried to fiddle with the backlash config - shows better results though


Any ideas how to get rid on minimize the backlash?


Cheers


Isaac

6

General Mach Discussion / Help with circles

« on: September 12, 2011, 04:16:16 AM »

Hello Folks

Need your assistance again.


Having problem getting a perfect or even near perfect circle - tried everything I know (which isn't much)


Made a circle on Cut2D - exported manually to Mach3 (the auto system does not work for me..) cutting the piece I get a circle that has in two opposite locations a "tip" that looks like the machine did some straight lines instead of an arc.

Looking at the circle on the tool path in Mach3 - it seems that the top part of the circle (north/south) is bigger then the other half (west east) but I don't know if this has anything to do here.

I set the I J mode tab to Inc, in Mach3 config page, and also checked the exact stop tab.

Tried to do a separate circle from the wizard in Mach3 - looks much better but still can see the pointers.

Checked my axes, can't see any mechanical fault. Did 3 passes from Zero point - the tool went exactly to the same position

To try and show the problem - I drew an exaggerated circle on CorelDraw.

Hope you can give me a hand here.

Cheers


Isaac

7

General Mach Discussion / Jogging buttons on MPG

« on: August 20, 2011, 07:02:30 AM »

Hello Folks

Another question:   I am using the jogging buttons at the bottom of the MPG window. (the one that pops-up using the TAB key) - when going to other screens or back to the first one - it goes away - hence I need to hit the tab key again and again.

Is there any possibility to set up the SW so this window will stay "on" all the time ?

Cheers


Isaac

8

General Mach Discussion / Re: Straight corners are rounded

« on: August 16, 2011, 08:02:58 PM »

Hi Ian

Thanks for that. Yes you are correct - I did the cut and it was OK - just startled by the curved lines.

Heaps to learn yet :-)


Cheers


Isaac

9

General Mach Discussion / Straight corners are rounded

« on: August 15, 2011, 06:41:00 PM »

Hello Folks

Need your help again.


I am using Cut2D SW - and there, all my sharp corners are displayed as expected. However when transferring the file to Mach3 - all my corners are rounded. The part color on the screen is blue, but the corners are in red as if they were changed or marked to show someting I don't understand.

Any ideas ?


Cheers


Isaac

10

General Mach Discussion / Re: Switches behave strangely

« on: August 09, 2011, 03:25:49 AM »

Hi Chieffy

I agree with Hood - try to give us more details - when you say "turns the system off" - what do you mean by that ? You should get a message at the bottom that says the reason it stopped (I.E limit switch triggered - or something else) This can give us an idea where to look for.

It may be interference. homing max and mins, units too small or too big etc....


Cheers


Isaac